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Great Win 'Papers Over Cracks' As Hammers Beat Baggies

Submitted by nevillenixon on Wed, 03/01/2018 - 11:13

All those hardy souls, including those from West Bromwich, who ventured out in appalling weather to see West Ham take on the Baggies were rewarded with a cagey but energetic relegation 'six pointer' that saw Hammers eventually run out 2 - 1 winners. As the jubilant home fans went their ways home in a mini hurricane singing bubbles one could be forgiven for thinking that all things were 'tickety boo' in the Hammers camp, however a prevailing comment on the overground and probably on all the other 'convenient' transport links was one of "great win, but it only papers over the cracks", unfortunately on closer analysis that is very close to the mark!

West Bromwich arrived at the London Stadium managed by that silver haired lothario Alan Pardew, he looked almost identical to the guy who used to manage West Ham! Having played Arsenal in a hard fought game 48 Hours earlier where they earned a creditable point the Baggies should have been there for the taking by a Hammers team that had the relative luxury of six days off courtesy of their fixture against Tottenham having been rescheduled by the Police insisting that they could not provide sufficient forces for the match originally scheduled for New Years Eve, the odds of getting anything from the Spurs game can be found at http://www.thatsagoal.com

Despite having one or two 'sniffs' at goal Hammers were really pedestrian and looked like the team that had only 48 Hrs break between matches as opposed to the visitors who looked sprightly and up for it. Manu Lanzini was forced to play so deep that only a keen eye from the 'up in the gods seats' could determine whether it was the Argentine maestro or the equally slight of frame Aaron Cresswell actually playing the ball out of defence, in the first half it was mostly Lanzini! He did have one really good chance that was saved well by the very active Foster who had a really good game, without his heroics, especially in the second half, the score line might have looked far more respectable from a West Ham point of view. But several home players looked incredibly jaded despite having the extra days of rest their opponents were deprived of, the most guilty offender being the previously ever reliable Kiwi warrior that is Winston Reid, he looked so far of the pace it was ridiculous, and not only was he slow but his decision making was all over the place, he was indecisive in the tackle and his passing was rank, Reid looked a shadow of his former self, perhaps he was carrying an injury or was ill?

Until Mark Noble was brought on for the second half Hammers midfield had looked toothless and was in danger of being completely over run, but the much criticised Noble (by ourselves as well as many others) proved to be the catalyst for a far better performance, he helped get the crowd behind the team and as anyone who has attended recent matches at the London Stadium knows once the place starts 'rocking' the atmosphere can be tremendous, and such was the case following Andy Carroll's first goal. The remaining minutes, which the Baggies did everything they could to waste, saw a 'Tora Tora Tora' flourish from the home side with the crowd roaring their team on for the remaining minutes, the relief and excitement when Carroll managed to turn in 'Elbows' Arnoutovic's mishit cros that was intended for Javier Hernandez but fell at the feet of the big geordie, was palpable and many a Happy Hammer braved the cold for their journey from the London Stadium, but in everyone's mind will be the slightly disturbing thought that if Hammers had been playing a 'top team' that the result might have been significantly different in a negative way.

You can paper over cracks in the short term, which is good because West Ham have only short term breaks between their matches against Tottenham on thursday and Shrewsbury Town on Sunday, both matches are being televised, the London Derby on Sky TV and the FA Cup tie against Shrewsbury which will be shown by the BBC who are doubtless hoping for a 'cup upset'.

West Ham's need for more strength in the midfield area is obviously a matter of great concern to Hammer's boss David Moyes who will actively seek fresh recruits but is also aware that there are few bargains to be had in the 'January Sales' but he has to do something soon in order to maintain West Ham's journey up the table, after all he can't keep on papering over the cracks can he? - Ed

Comments

I agree entirely.I would not want to call what will happen at the end of the season,as ok,we won last night......... just....but we cannot get away from the bottom 3 places,we get out then fall back in.If we don't get some points to cushion us from the bottom,it will go right to the last game,and I can see that happening.

But we nicked it at the end for a terrific 3 points which are like gold dust at the moment....its about time we scored very late on rather than it normally happening against us!!Imagine how west brom fans must feel after last night so ill take a messy win any day at the moment!

Agree DITM, at the moment we have to take any win in any shape or form. Even then, I don think its papering the cracks as much as results under Bilic would. Them 3 1-0 wins last season being a highlight.

It does look like it is currently papering over the cracks. We have the worst balanced centre mid in prem history. We need leadership, and we need strong willed midfielders ready for a fight. For me so much depends on who is brought in in January. It's imperative we get it right! If not we are down. Says everything about our midfield when the only strong character with leadership comes on at the start of the second half and it changes things.

Totally agree red we've got to put up a fight tomorrow night otherwise we face a severe spanking ,the way elbows is performing up front (i would say he's relishing his new role instead of being stuck our wide left )and just maybe Carroll has got his mo ~jo back and Lanz right up behind them we might just sneak something ,there must be a role for chip pea somewhere COYI

To my mind Rice has done enough to warrant a start tonight. He can play at the back or is equally comfortable in midfield. He looked very comfortable on the ball on Tuesday, running at and beating defenders, give the lad a chance.

Id get kouyate in the back line instead of cresswell who is injured, then move rice in def midfield. Kouyate has been less than useless in mid. Rice can do the dm role and actually passes the ball better. I expect Moyes will play 3 at the back.